Nationwide Ola, Uber, Rapido Strike Disrupts India's Gig Transport Today

App-based taxi and auto-rickshaw drivers across India have launched a nationwide day-long strike today, February 7, 2026, under the banner of the 'All India Breakdown,' severely disrupting ride-hailing services like Ola, Uber, Rapido, and Porter. The coordinated protest, led by prominent unions such as the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union (TGPWU) and the Maharashtra Kamgar Sabha, aims to draw urgent government attention to a range of critical demands concerning driver welfare and fair operational practices. The primary demands of the striking drivers include the immediate notification and implementation of minimum base fares for all app-based transport services, encompassing cabs, auto-rickshaws, and bike taxis. Unions argue that despite the existence of the Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines, 2025, ride-hailing platforms continue to unilaterally determine fares, leading to severe income insecurity and unsustainable working conditions for millions of transport workers. This arbitrary pricing, they contend, pushes drivers into poverty while aggregators continue to profit. Another significant demand is a complete ban on the misuse of private vehicles for commercial rides and illegal bike taxi services. Drivers claim that the unchecked operation of vehicles with white number plates for commercial purposes, as well as unauthorized bike taxi services, undercuts the earnings of legally operating traditional and app-based taxis and autos. The Maharashtra Kamgar Sabha, for instance, has highlighted the financial strain on drivers, partly due to the mandatory installation of panic buttons, with some companies declared unauthorized, forcing drivers to incur additional expenses to install new devices. The protest also calls for greater regulatory monitoring of aggregator platforms, enhanced fare transparency, and direct consultation with driver unions before any fare structures are set. Drivers have expressed frustration over surge pricing models, where they often do not receive a fair share of the increased fares, leading to public perception that drivers are profiting excessively. Additionally, there are calls for the establishment of a Rashtriya Chalak Ayog (National Driver Commission) for driver welfare and the enactment of a specific law for 'gig workers' to ensure social security benefits like provident fund, ESI health cover, and accident insurance, from which many gig workers are currently excluded. Commuters in major Indian cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad, are experiencing significant travel disruptions as thousands of drivers log off their apps for a minimum of six hours, affecting the availability of cabs, auto-rickshaws, and bike taxis. The strike follows previous protests, such as those by food delivery and quick commerce riders in December 2025, underscoring persistent grievances within India's rapidly expanding gig economy. The Economic Survey for 2025-26 revealed that nearly 40% of gig workers earn less than ₹15,000 per month, highlighting the economic pressures faced by these workers. Unions have stated that they have exhausted democratic channels through demonstrations and representations to authorities, asserting that collective protest is now their only recourse. They allege that transport departments' directives to app-based companies regarding fare structures and unauthorized bike taxi operations have largely been ignored, with little enforcement on the ground. The current 'All India Breakdown' signifies a growing frustration among gig workers over what they term "endless exploitation" and a lack of governmental action to regulate the sector fairly.

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